Chile Declares Emergency After Widespread Power Outage Affecting Millions
A significant power outage in Chile on February 25, 2025, disrupted electricity for 19 million people, prompting President Gabriel Boric to declare a state of emergency. The outage, caused by a fault in the Norte Chico power grid, necessitated the evacuation of public transport and the distribution of water in affected areas. By the following morning, 90% of power had been restored, though challenges remained for about 220,000 users.
On February 25, 2025, Chile’s President Gabriel Boric declared a state of emergency following a massive power outage affecting approximately 19 million citizens and eight million homes. Boric criticized private companies for their role in disrupting the daily lives of Chileans, asserting that the state must hold them accountable: “What happened today is outrageous because it’s not tolerable that one or several companies impact the everyday life of millions of Chileans…” – Anadolu Agency.
The outage was attributed to a fault in the Norte Chico power grid, specifically involving a disconnection of the 500 kV double circuit between Vallenar and Coquimbo power stations. Ernesto Huber, the executive director of the National Electricity Coordinator, confirmed ongoing efforts to restore power.
The outage coincided with a national heatwave, prompting local authorities in affected towns to distribute drinking water. Essential services, such as underground train operations, were swiftly evacuated, and electric bus fleets were employed to ease traffic disruptions caused by non-functioning traffic lights throughout major cities.
As of Wednesday morning, power was gradually being restored, and operations at major copper mines were resumed. The National Electricity Coordinator reported that 90% of residential power consumption had been reinstated, with around 220,000 users still experiencing outages as the curfew was lifted.
The extensive power outage in Chile highlighted systemic vulnerabilities within the country’s electrical infrastructure, prompting government officials to engage with private firms on accountability. As restoration efforts progressed, the state of emergency underscored the importance of safeguarding essential services and public safety during such crises. Ultimately, immediate actions were taken to mitigate further disruptions for the population. Efforts were successful in restoring a significant portion of power, indicating that the system’s recovery was on the right track despite the initial chaos.
Original Source: en.tempo.co
